Protective head covering for use in air raids and the like



Oct. 27, 1942. R. TAMPIER 0 PROTECTIVE HEAD COVERING FOR USE IN AIR RAiDS AND THE LIKE Filed ma 26, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 //v VENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

R. TAM PIER Oct. 27, 1942.

PROTECTIVE HEAD COVERING FOR USE IN AIR RAIDS AND THE LIKE Filed May 26, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 W. 0mm. m M mu 0 m as:

Patented Oct. 27, 1942 'r we PROTECTIVE HEAD COVERING FOR USE IN AIR RAIDS AND THE LIKE Rene 'llampier, Cricklewood, London, England Application May 26, 1941, Serial No. 395,199 I In. Great Britain June 12, 1940 7 Claims. (01. 2-3) This invention relates to a protective head covering for use in air raids and the like. 4

The'broad object of the invention isto provide a-device whichwill protect the head of the wearer from injury by flying missiles, such as shrapnel, machine gun bullets, pieces of masonry, and the like. i

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of the above mentioned character which can be firmly supported on, and harnessed to, the body, whilst leaving free the arms and hands of the wearer.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of the kind in question in which provision may be made for protecting the neck, shoulders and back, in addition to the head, of the wearer.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of one form of device made according to the invention.

Figs. 2 and 3 illustrate, respectively, likewise in perspective view, the two component parts of Fig. 1, Fig. 2 illustrating the head shield and Fig. 3 the side and back plates and the means for securing the device to the wearer.

Fig. 4 is a section on line IV IV, Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 illustrates the device in use, and Fig. 6 illustrates a particular application of the device.

In the drawings the head shield I (Fig. 2) is built up of several superposed composite layers 2, each comprising a sheet of wire netting 4, covered on both sides by paper or fabric 5, (Fig. 4) and separated by alternate layers 6 of cork, indiarubber or other material. The wire netting in 1 each sheet 2 may be replaced by expanded metal or other suitable material. The various layers are assembled and riveted or otherwise secured together, the assembly being arched transversely by pressing in a suitable press. Transverse rails I, 8, and a longitudinal rail 9 are screwed or otherwise secured to the lower surface of the shield. Each of the rails I, 8, 9 carries a depending block I on which is pivotally mounted, on a vertical pivot pin l I, a locking bar Ill.

The component part of the device shown in Fig. 3, comprises side plates I2, I3 and back plate I4, all of which may be of composite construction similar to the layers 2 or may be single sheets of a suitable material, e. g. metal or wood. The side plates I2, I3 are riveted or otherwise secured to the back plate I4, and the top edges of plates I2, I3, are shaped in uniformity with the curvature of the shield. Each of the side plates .12, I3, and the back plate l4 has a block I projecting from its outer surface so that, inorder to secure the parts shown in Figs. 2 and 3 together in a readily detachable manner it is onlyfinecessary to place the shield in position in'the side and back plates and swing bars I Ii; on their pivots ll so as to engage underneath the cor.-

responding projections I5 on the plates I2, I3, I4 as shown in Fig. l. i

The lower edges of the side plates are curved to accommodate pads l6, l1, the lower surfaces of which are shaped to fit on the shoulders of the wearer. The back plate I4 is extended below the side plates to cover the back of the wearer, and carries on its inner surface towards its lower end a pad I8.

Straps I9, having loops 2!, 22 at their lower ends, depend from the front edges of the side plates, and a strap 23 secured intermediate its ends to the back plate I4, passes through the loops 2|, 22 and is adapted to be fastened around the body of the wearer, as shown in Fig. 5.

Fig. 6 illustrates how a number of persons (for example school children) wearing the device above described can be assembled with the adjacent edges of the various head shields close together, forming a sort of roof over the assembly, which, in addition to providing a positive protection, is useful as a camouflage, since it will tend to conceal the wearer from aircraft. The

figure also illustrates how, by providing hooks 24 on the shields, sheets or curtains .25, for example of a metallic nature, such as wire net or expanded metal may be suspended, thus formin a protective curtain around the assembly.

What I claim is:

1. A protective head covering for use in air raids and the like comprising an arched shield of shock resisting material for covering the top of the head, two side plates connected respectively at opposite sides of the said shield, each of said plates having a width suflicient to cover the sides of the head, said side plates depending from said arched shield, a pad fitted to the lower edge of each side plate and adapted to fit on to the shoulders of the wearer, whereby the device as a whole is supported on the shoulders of the wearer and out of contact with the head, and means for harnessing the device to the body of the wearer.

2. A protective head covering for use in air raids and the like comprising an arched shield of shock resisting material for covering the top of the head, two side plates connected respectively at opposite sides of the said shield, each of said plates having a width sufficient to cover the sides of the head, said side plates depending from said arched shield, a back plate connected to and between said side plates, whereby the sides and back of the head are enclosed by said side and back plates, a pad fitted to the lower edge of each side plate and adapted to fit on to the shoulders of the wearer, whereby the device as a whole is supported on the shoulders of the wearer and out of contact with the head, and means for harnessing the device to the body of the wearer.

3. A protective head covering for use in air raids and the like comprising an arched shield of shock resisting material for covering the top of the head, two side plates of shock resisting material connected respectively at opposite sides of the said shield, each of said plates having a width suiiicient to cover the sides of the head, said side plates depending from said arched shield, a back plate of shock resisting material connected to and between said side plates, whereby the sides and back of the head are enclosed by said; side and back plates, an extension, to said back plate depending below the lower edges of said side plates and adapted to cover the shoulders and back of the wearer, a pad fitted tothe lower edge of each side plate adapted to fit on to the shoulders of the wearer, and means for harnessing the device to the body comprising a belt or strap secured to the back plate, two straps depending respectively from the front edges of the side plates and terminating in loops which are engaged by the belt or strap passing around the back plate.

4. A protective head covering according to claim 2 wherein the head shield comprises a plurality of metallic layers, each covered by sheet material such as a fabric, in superposed relationship, each metallic layer being spaced from adjacent layers by any suitable medium.

5. A protective head covering according to claim 2 further comprising means for detachably securing the head shield to the side plates, said means comprising pivotally mounted locking bars carried on the head shield and complementary locking elements carried on the side plates, said elements being engaged by said locking bars.

6. A protective head covering according to claim 2 further comprising a pad carried on the back plate towards the lower edge thereof so as to be disposed between the said back plate and the back of the wearer.

'7. A protective covering according to claim 2 further comprising hooks projecting from the edges of, the head shield on which protective sheets or curtains can be suspended, substantiallv as described.

RENE TAMPIER. 

